Chapter 275: Traitor’s Trail

The war room was quiet.

Nathan stood at the table, the map spread before him, his fingers hovering over the parchment. The prince stood beside him, arms crossed, his pale blue eyes fixed on the map. The other advisors had been dismissed—this was too sensitive for a crowd.

"You’re sure it’s her?" the prince asked.

Nathan activated [Hunter’s Insight]. The world sharpened, mana trails becoming visible. He traced the faint threads that clung to the map—the residual energy of everyone who had touched it.

"I’m sure," he said. "The signature is distinct. It’s hers."

The prince’s jaw tightened. "Can you trace it?"

"Not here. The trail’s too faint. But if I get to the place where she last handled it...somewhere with stronger residual mana, I might be able to follow it."

"Then we go." The prince turned toward the door. "I’ll assemble a small team. We leave at dawn."

Nathan caught his arm. "Wait."

The prince stopped.

"This is your sister," Nathan said quietly. "Are you sure you want to be the one to hunt her?"

The prince was silent for a long moment. Then he spoke, his voice quiet but steady.

"She’s my sister. I grew up with her. I played with her. I protected her." He paused. "And now I have to hunt her."

He looked at Nathan.

"But I won’t send someone else to do what I should do myself. She’s my responsibility. My failure. My family."

Nathan nodded slowly. "Then we do this together."

---

That night, Nathan returned to the inn.

He sat on the bed, Moonlight across his knees. The room was quiet—too quiet. He could hear the city outside, the distant sounds of soldiers patrolling, the muffled conversations of civilians. The capital was on edge. The battle had been won, but the war was far from over.

He opened his status panel.

[Name: Nathan Cross]

[Class: Archer]

[Sub-Class: Overlord]

[Level: 115]

[Overlord Points: 1750]

He stared at the number for a long moment. He could buy a skill. [Glacial Lance] cost 1000 points. [Impact Strike] cost 500. [Thunder Edge] cost 700. Any of them would make him stronger.

But he didn’t know what was coming. He didn’t know what he’d need.

Save the points, he told himself. You’ll know when the time is right.

He closed the panel and lay back on the bed.

Tomorrow, he would hunt a princess.

---

In the hidden manor, Kenji sat alone in his room.

The fire had burned low. The candles had guttered out. The only light came from the moon outside his window—a pale, cold light that made the shadows seem deeper.

He was still thinking about what he’d overheard.

She’s working with the demons. She’s been working with them all along.

The thought made his stomach churn. He had killed for her. He had leveled up for her. He had become a monster for her.

And she had been using him the entire time.

He heard footsteps in the hallway. He tensed, his hand moving to the sword beside his bed. But the footsteps passed without stopping. A guard, maybe. Or a servant.

He let out a slow breath.

He needed to get out. He needed to find help. But how? The manor was guarded. The doors were locked. And he didn’t know where he was—somewhere in the forest, far from the capital.

Think, he told himself. You’re the hero. You can figure this out.

But he didn’t feel like a hero. He felt like a scared kid, trapped in a nightmare of his own making.

---

In Solara, Aeliana stood before the High-elf Queen.

The Queen’s hall was vast and ancient, its walls covered in tapestries depicting the history of the elven people. The Queen herself sat on a throne of woven branches and living leaves, her silver hair cascading down her shoulders, her eyes the color of ancient forests.

She listened without expression as Aeliana presented her case.

"The dimensional rift is growing," Aeliana said. "The demon army is marching. The capital is preparing for war. If we don’t act now, we may not have a world left to protect."

The Queen was silent for a long moment. Then she spoke, her voice soft but clear.

"You ask much of Solara. We have stayed out of human wars for centuries. Why should we intervene now?"

"Because this isn’t just a human war," Aeliana replied. "The demon army threatens all of us. The dimensional rift threatens all of us. If we don’t act now—"

"I understand the threat." The Queen’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "But Solara’s strength is not infinite. If we commit our forces to this war, we leave our own borders vulnerable."

"The demons won’t stop at Albion. They’ll come for Solara next."

"Perhaps. But perhaps not. The demons have never breached our forests. They may never try."

Aeliana opened her mouth to argue, but the Queen held up a hand.

"I will consider your words. But I make no promises."

Thorne stepped forward, his hand on his sword. "My Queen—"

"Silence." The Queen’s voice was sharp. "You forget your place, warrior."

Thorne lowered his head. "Forgive me, my Queen."

The Queen’s expression softened—just slightly. "You are loyal, Thorne. I know. But loyalty does not excuse insolence."

Faen stepped forward, his voice measured. "My Queen, with respect—the dimensional rift is unlike anything we’ve seen before. It’s not just a tear in reality—it’s a wound. And it’s bleeding. If we don’t seal it, the consequences could be catastrophic."

The Queen studied him for a long moment. Then she nodded slowly.

"You speak wisely, scholar. But I cannot make a decision based on fear alone. I need proof. Evidence that this threat is as grave as you claim."

"Then let us bring you proof," Aeliana said. "Give us time. We’ll return with evidence—and with allies."

The Queen was quiet for a moment. Then she nodded.

"You have one week. If you can bring me proof of the threat, I will consider committing our forces."

Aeliana bowed. "Thank you, my Queen."

---

But the Queen’s decision was interrupted by a scout bursting into the hall.

"My Queen! The demons have breached the north border. They’re marching toward the capital. But there’s something else—something worse."

"What is it?" the Queen demanded.

"The dimensional rift. It’s opened. Entities from the Void are pouring through."

The Queen’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes flickered—just for a moment.

"Show me."

The scout led them to the observation tower, where a magical projection showed the northern border. The rift was a tear in reality—a jagged wound in the sky, pulsing with sickly light. And from that wound, creatures were pouring through. Not demons—something older. Something worse.

Aeliana stared at the projection. "The Void Between. It’s breached."

The Queen turned to her. "You were right. We cannot stay out of this war any longer."

She looked at her daughter.

"Solara will fight."

---

Nathan and the prince stood at the edge of the capital, ready to follow the trail Amelia left behind.

They had a small group—Nathan, the prince, Gerald, Thomas, and a handful of trusted soldiers. Aeliana was still in Solara, but she had promised to return with reinforcements.

"We find her," the prince said. "We find her, and we stop her."

Nathan nodded. "And we save Kenji."

The prince looked at him. "The hero?"

"He’s not just a hero. He’s a kid. A kid who was taken from his world and manipulated into becoming a killer. He deserves a chance to make things right."

The prince was silent for a moment. Then he nodded.

"Then we save him too."

They rode into the forest, following the faint trail of Amelia’s mana.

---

Somewhere in the darkness, Amelia watched them go.

She stood on a ridge overlooking the forest, her silver hair catching the moonlight. Behind her, a demon messenger waited—a creature of shadow and teeth, its eyes burning red.

"They’re coming," the messenger hissed. "The prince and the archer."

"I know." Amelia’s smile was cold. "Let them come."

She turned to the messenger.

"Tell the Demon King that the bait has been taken. The hero is ready. And the trap is set."

The messenger vanished into the shadows.

Amelia looked back at the forest, her smile widening.

Let them come. They’ll find more than they bargained for.